The KH-11, also referenced by the codenames Crystal and Kennan, was a type of reconnaissance satellite launched by the American National Reconnaissance Office from December 1976 to November 1988 and used until 1995. Manufactured by Lockheed, the KH-11 was the first American spy satellite to utilize electro-optical digital imaging. It is believed to resemble the Hubble Space Telescope in size and shape, as the satellites were shipped in similar containers. Using a powerful 2.3-meter mirror, the telescope is believed to have a ground resolution of 0.15 meter (6 inches). Different versions of the KH-11 vary in mass from 13,000 to 13,500 kilograms. Length is believed to be 19.5 meters, and diameter is 3 meters or less. Data was transmitted through the United States military's Satellite Data System relay network.

KH-11s generally operated for about 3 years, although it is believed that at least one was operational for 11 years. It is believed that the KH-11 began to be replaced by the KH-12 around 1990. Many observers believe that the KH-12 is really just an incremental improvement over the KH-11, so some still call later satellites KH-11s. The "Improved Crystal" nickname that the KH-12 has also comes from the idea that it is just incrementally better. The main difference is that the KH-12 might include the ability for "live" viewing of imagery.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is rumored to be a derivative of the KH-11, though with different instrumentation, sensitivity levels, and a vastly different focal range. The two were supposedly transported in the same shipping container, lending credence to the speculation.

References

• Mark Wade (August 9, 2003). KH-11. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed April 23, 2004.
• John Pike (September 9, 2000). KH-11 Kennan/Crystal. Federation of American Scientists. Accessed April 24, 2004.
• John Pike (January 1, 1997). KH-11 product. Federation of American Scientists. Accessed April 24, 2004.